Shane Williams
Grand Master Williams – 9th Dan Martial Arts History Began training with KI in 1978. Obtained Black Belt in June of 1984.Began study of the martial arts in 1978 at the age 6 Earned 1st degree black belt in June, 1984. Opened first KI dojo in Lewisville NC in June 1991 (age 19) Karate Instructor of the year in 1992 awarded by AMAA Opened the Mocksville dojo in 1993 (age 21) Opened Clemmons Dojo in Jan 1994 Earned Master Instructor (6th degree) in 1994 at the age of 22 under Grand Master Jan Wellendorf Earned 8th Degree...
Ginger Gallagher
Shihan Gallagher – 8th Dan Began training with KI in June of 1978. Obtained Black Belt in June of 1982. Currently an 8th degree black belt. Began study of the martial arts in June,1978 and attained 1st degree black belt in June, 1982. Began teaching as a brown belt and has taught a variety of classes over the years, from Little Dragons to advanced black belt. Attended numerous tournaments over the years, having been awarded over 250 trophies. Member American Martial Arts Hall of Fame, 2003. Certified as a head instructor by...
Mark Thomas
Master Thomas – 7th Dan Began training with KI in June of 1993. Obtained Black Belt in June of 1995. Began his martial arts training at the age of 17, prior to joining KI achieved the rank of Brown Belt in Hapkido. Navy veteran, Business Intelligence Consultant for Wachovia Bank. Inducted into AMAA Hall of Fame in 2003. Over 30 local and open tournament victories, wrote and taught self defense seminars for the Boy Scouts of America and Girl Scouts of America. Taught self defense seminars for a variety of community...
Keith Turpin
Shihan Turpin – 7th Dan Began training with KI in February of 1994. Obtained Black Belt in June of 1982. Keith Turpin is Chief Instructor and owner of KI Clemmons. He became a student there in the second month of operations in February, 1994, and has been an instructor since reaching the rank of green belt. Master Turpin also has a Black Belt in the Goju Shorei Weapons System as well as previous martial arts experience in Judo and Japanese and Okinawan style Karate before coming to Karate International. He has numerous...
Bill Fischer
Master Fischer – 6th Dan Began training with KI in October of 1993. Obtained Black Belt in May of 1998. Member of the AMAA Hall of Fame Earned the rank of Eagle Scout Graduated from NC State in 2005: B.S. Electrical Engineering Currently employed by Qualcomm as a Hardware...
Mark Pettenati
Sensei Pettenati – 5th Dan Began training with KI in June of 1992. Obtained Black Belt in June of 1996. Chief Instructor at the Lewisville Dojo. First started in martial arts in 1981 in Goju Ryu, latter trained in judo and Shodokan before coming to KI. Professor Pediatrics/Medical Genetics; Director of Medical Genetic Laboratories. Degrees earned :...
Brandon Vaughn
Sensei Vaughn – 5th Dan Began Training with KI in June of 2003. Obtained Black Belt in May of 2005. Began his martial arts training at the age of 13 in Tae Kwon Do, started with Karate International in 2003. Began teaching as a purple belt and has taught various classes from Little Dragons to Black Belts. Took over as owner and chief instructor of the Elkin Dojo in October 2005. Has done various self defense classes and school talks for the Yadkin, Surry and Wilkes county schools, the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts as well Hugh...
It is amazing to see shy reserved people, regardless of age, become confident, disciplined, positive leaders. This is Karate International.
Carolyn Gross, Lewisville, NC
